Eva's Phoenix

Housing Program

Eva's Phoenix, Living Independently

Eva's Phoenix is a transitional housing and training facility, which formally opened in June 2000. Prior to opening, Eva's Phoenix ran its first successful employment training program funded by Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC), which supported 50 homeless and at-risk youth in life skills training and on-site employment on the Eva's Phoenix construction site, with our partners: Carpenters Local 27, Interior Systems Contractors Association Local 675, and the Painter's Union.

Eva's Phoenix provides housing for 50 youth, aged 16 to 24 years, for up to a full year, and since 2002 has also allowed up to 160 youth each year, aged 16 to 29 years, to participate in its employment and pre-apprenticeship programs. Working with business, labour and community partners, Eva's Phoenix provides homeless and at-risk youth with the opportunities needed to develop life skills, build careers and live independently.

Youth at Eva's Phoenix live in shared townhouse-style units with access to common areas. While at Eva's Phoenix, youth develop the skills to live independently through goal setting exercises, workshops and hands-on programs that are delivered in a supportive environment. More information on the Eva's Phoenix Housing Program can be found below.

In combination with a Mentorship Program, youth are able to build stable support networks outside of the social service system. Peer Mentors and One-to-One Mentors provide a range of support to youth including running cooking classes, conducting leadership development activities and supporting the efforts of youth to successfully manage independent living.

Youth living at Eva's Phoenix must be involved in a training or employment program. While the youth learn work skills, Eva's Phoenix staff provides counselling, job placement assistance, housing search support, mentorship opportunities, follow-up support and a range of other services to help youth achieve and maintain self-sufficiency.

Statistics for Eva's Phoenix (2005)
Total number of residents - 175

Housing Program - Philosophy

One year is not a long time for someone who is young and hopeful. It is, however, a long time for homeless and at-risk youth to be able to live in a stable housing environment.

The youth who live at Eva's Phoenix come with a wealth of experience and skills, but the problem is that these are not always the skills and experiences that will help them live independently. At Eva's Phoenix, the housing goal for youth is to develop the skills that they will need to live safely and independently.

By working closely with youth, individually and through groups and workshops, the housing team gives each youth the attention and resources that they might need to practice living collaboratively, saving money, budgeting, cooking, shopping, searching for housing, understanding their rights as a tenant to name a few. But that is not all that is needed. Through individual counselling, the housing team supports youth as they learn how to resolve conflicts, how to recover from making mistakes, how to set personal short-term and long-term goals, how to manage relationshipsÉand much more.

The housing team at Eva's Phoenix also works with the youth in the shelter to help build a sense of community and responsibility to that community. We continue to nurture the sense of community even after they leave the shelter, by holding events and celebrations throughout the year that former residents are invited to.

Client Referral: New or Returning Applicants:

If you are a youth interested in our program and you have never been a participant or resident before, please use the Referral Form. It is ideal if you can have this form filled out by someone from a youth-serving agency that works with you (shelter worker, counsellor, etc.), however you can also fill the form out yourself.

More information can be found in the Eva's Phoenix Referral Information & Criteria, which includes details on the housing and employment programs that are available.

If you are interested in our program and you have been involved with us in the past, please fill out the Eva's Phoenix Re-application Form.

The interview process for re-application will be the same as for first time applicants.

If you have any questions in regard to employment and housing, please call 416-364-4716 ext. 236.
If you have any questions about the employment program only, please call 416-364-1674 ext. 266.

Keeping in Touch:

It is important that you let us know how you are doing. It will help us provide follow up support and stay in touch with you to let you know about upcoming events at Eva's Phoenix. We would also like to hear about your progress and successes so we can let our funders and partners know that their support of Eva's Phoenix is having a positive impact. Your name will never be disclosed to funders or partners without your written consent.

Please email the following details to info@evasphoenix.ca:

• Name, address, phone number, email address
• Are you working? If yes, where?
• Are you housed? If yes, what kind of housing?

For a listing of upcoming events for clients and graduates of Eva's Phoenix, please contact:
Community Support Worker
416-364-4716 ext. 229
info@evasphoenix.ca

Are you a graduate of Eva's Phoenix and would like to use your skills and experience to help another youth? If yes, then you may be interested in getting involved in our Peer Mentorship Program. Please contact 416-364-4716 ext. 232.